My Blue 2000 1MZ MR2 - Jrichards20 Fast Road/Touring Build

[Jrichards20]

Thanks mate!  s:) s:)

[Jrichards20]

Tyres went on yesterday. AD08Rs  s:) s:)  



Feels a lot better. Still needs suspension doing and a decent geo.

[1979scotte]

That's some arch gap you've got there mate.

Edited bloody phones!

[tomaky]

Looks abit like mine hahaha

[Jrichards20]

Today I gave changing the steering wheel a go.

First thing, undo negative terminal but and bolt, lift off, making sure not touching any part of earth metal. I sellotaped to a cloth as I was a bit wary as I'm pretty clumsy and could see me electrocuting myself. Then same thing for the positive lead and waited 20 minutes just to be safe!


 
On the back of the steering wheel undo the two T30 torx screws. I found this difficult, managed to succeed by pointing the steering wheel 90degrees so the screw was facing the roof, extended screwdriver, two hands turning the screwdriver as was really tightly screwed on. No need to worry about the horn going off if you have disconnected the battery for long enough!



Pull the front off, but gently as had to remove the airbag and horn leads first. Then put the airbag away, with the Toyota sign face up, I case it went off it wouldn't go flying in the air!



Then undo the centre nut, bit of plusgas on the splines. Gave a couple of almighty pulls on the steering wheel, obviously straightening the steering wheel first so I knew what way it was facing to attach the new one! And it came off relatively easily.



Next bit stumped me for a while, only because of my own stupidity. Take off the plastic trim, there is a small screw on the underside to undo, and then pull the bottom of the plastic steering column off. And then to take the top bit off, take off the plastic around the dials and the the top trim should just pull out.  To take the yellow plastic bit off to attach the boss, need to undo the little black clips all around the outside, the silver clip on the top, the big black clip of the bottom and all the clips in the ring in the middle. This will then hopefully pop out and there is a white spiral. I disconnected the spiral where it attached to the steering column.



Then trim all back on, boss over the top of the spline, remember to put the spline nut back on! Because I forgot! Then screw steering wheel into the boss! Now at the moment I haven't put the airbag resistor on. Nor is the horn connected. I will route the horn to a button on the dash, most likely where the coin holder is. As sometimes the horn in the aftermarket steering wheels can come loose and become a pain! So that is still to come!  s:) s:)  

Before



After  s:) s:)  




I would say it's an easy job to do. But because I didn't have a clue what I was doing and there were no instructions I got lost along the way so had to ask a lot of questions.

[1979scotte]

Well done mate.
Not something I think I would ever do but thanks for the write up all he same.

[Jrichards20]

That's some arch gap you've got there mate.

Edited bloody phones!

The picture angle makes it looks worse than it is! But yeah, it is large anyway, looking to do the coilovers in between Christmas and New Years as off work so that should reduce it hopefully!

Well done mate.
Not something I think I would ever do but thanks for the write up all he same.

It was quite fiddly, and spent a bit of time lying upside down with my feet out of the car, but really please with the size of the new wheel, feels a lot more sporty, and also feels a bit pointier, so pleased with it  s:) s:)

[tomaky]

We getting in on a group buy josh? I will be ready after crimbo

[Turbokettle]

Is it finished yet?


Should have bought a lotus.   s:P s:P

[Turbokettle]

Interesting read. I expect to see many updates coming soon.

[Jrichards20]

Is it finished yet?


Should have bought a lotus.   s:P s:P

No its not finished yet steve!  s:) s:)  its about as much done as your lotus is!  s;) s;)

[J03]

Good ol' Plusgas!   s:D s:D  

If you have some spare pennies try one of these out, it'll transform the driving position......

 m http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorspor ... adjustable m

[justinread72]

Today I gave changing the steering wheel a go.

First thing, undo negative terminal but and bolt, lift off, making sure not touching any part of earth metal. I sellotaped to a cloth as I was a bit wary as I'm pretty clumsy and could see me electrocuting myself. Then same thing for the positive lead and waited 20 minutes just to be safe!


 
On the back of the steering wheel undo the two T30 torx screws. I found this difficult, managed to succeed by pointing the steering wheel 90degrees so the screw was facing the roof, extended screwdriver, two hands turning the screwdriver as was really tightly screwed on. No need to worry about the horn going off if you have disconnected the battery for long enough!



Pull the front off, but gently as had to remove the airbag and horn leads first. Then put the airbag away, with the Toyota sign face up, I case it went off it wouldn't go flying in the air!



Then undo the centre nut, bit of plusgas on the splines. Gave a couple of almighty pulls on the steering wheel, obviously straightening the steering wheel first so I knew what way it was facing to attach the new one! And it came off relatively easily.



Next bit stumped me for a while, only because of my own stupidity. Take off the plastic trim, there is a small screw on the underside to undo, and then pull the bottom of the plastic steering column off. And then to take the top bit off, take off the plastic around the dials and the the top trim should just pull out.  To take the yellow plastic bit off to attach the boss, need to undo the little black clips all around the outside, the silver clip on the top, the big black clip of the bottom and all the clips in the ring in the middle. This will then hopefully pop out and there is a white spiral. I disconnected the spiral where it attached to the steering column.



Then trim all back on, boss over the top of the spline, remember to put the spline nut back on! Because I forgot! Then screw steering wheel into the boss! Now at the moment I haven't put the airbag resistor on. Nor is the horn connected. I will route the horn to a button on the dash, most likely where the coin holder is. As sometimes the horn in the aftermarket steering wheels can come loose and become a pain! So that is still to come!  s:) s:)  

Before



After  s:) s:)  




I would say it's an easy job to do. But because I didn't have a clue what I was doing and there were no instructions I got lost along the way so had to ask a lot of questions.

Great write up can you tell me about where I can get a airbag thing so the light on dash goes off ? Is this something I can buy off eBay. Many thanks

[Jrichards20]

Sorry mate, I haven't looked yet, it's just an airbag resistor, I'm sure if you google it there will be one on eBay.


So after some faffing about I put the coilovers on yesterday!

The front was easier than I expected. Getting the abs sensor and brake line was easy, granted needed a bit forcing, but the bolts didn't round.

Sprayed lots of plusgas on the two lower nuts and bolts on the shock. I wasn't able to release these at first, but we put a large spanner on the nut, and I found the longest wrench I could and pushing both together and they both freed with relative ease! No rounding or shearing of bolts! I can't stress this enough! Use the correct tools! It makes the job so much easier! I hammered the wrench into the bolt to make sure it wouldn't slip off, the wrench was about as long as my forearm, anything smaller than that and it was difficult. Then undid the top nuts under the bonnet, gave the hub a good pull and it freed from the shock. Now be careful here that the shock doesn't drop. New coilover in and bolt up and voila that's the front done  s:) s:)  

The back wasn't as rusty, but the droplinks are a nightmare! As I was changing the shocks, droplinks and arb. In the end, I made it easy, took an angle grinder to the droplinks which allowed me to pull the arb out and then remove the bolts from the shock and take that out as well. Refit the new coilovers in reverse order, remember what I didn't know, you can put an Allen key in the droplink to stop the thread turning!

I have no mechanical knowledge, everything I'm learning going along, but I would say this is an easy job technically, just a pain if you don't have the right tools. I started at 10:30, with lunch and then an hour where I had to stop because of hailstones, it was all done by 5  s:) s:)  

[tomaky]

Happy days!

[StuC]

Hey, where's the tractor?  s;-) ;-) s;-)

Looks much better fella.  s:-D :-D s:-D

[shnazzle]

Fine choice of undercarriage. Looking forward to the track footage  s:) s:)

[Bernie]

Sitting pretty good job

[tommyzoom99]

looks sweet lowered on coilovers buddy just makes me want them even more now

cheers tommy

[Jrichards20]

Hey, where's the tractor?  s;-) ;-) s;-)

Looks much better fella.  s:-D :-D s:-D

The world just wasn't ready for it! So until people can appreciate good taste, we have got the little wheels on   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  

Fine choice of undercarriage. Looking forward to the track footage  s:) s:)

So am I! Still probably 6 months away from her first track outing, but I have a feeling she's going to impress me  s:) s:)  

looks sweet lowered on coilovers buddy just makes me want them even more now

cheers tommy

The ability to be able to adjust the stiffness is probably something that really edges in front of tein springs. Just gives you that little bit more freedom off the track and then you can dial in hardcore when you need to with just the twist of 4 buttons! But I can definitely tell once I get new wheels, I'm going to be copying the amount of arch roll you have  s;) s;)  



Thanks all for the kind words!

[Jrichards20]

Some more pictures  s:) s:)  












I gave the bonnet a wash, clay bar, polish and wax. And it really does have a lot of chips in it  s:( s:(  luckily I will be buying a vented bonnet when I have some money I'm not too bothered. But I took some pictures as I was quite pleased with the shine, even if it was full of stone chips.

[Jrichards20]

Hard top collect and fitted!  s:) s:)  it's getting there!

[manos3003]

Progress it seems. Same here, coilovers and polybushes soon to go on! Exciting times!  s:D s:D

[StuC]

Josh do me a favour or two.
Clear side repeaters!
Key hole covers!

Black wheels are looking good. Glad you are sorted with a hardtop too.  s:-D :-D s:-D

[Jrichards20]

Josh do me a favour or two.
Clear side repeaters!
Key hole covers!

Black wheels are looking good. Glad you are sorted with a hardtop too.  s:-D :-D s:-D

hehe they are on the list  s:) s:)  along with facelift blue side vents. Also just got a Blue JDM nose badge so think once ive sorted these little items the outside is basically done for the moment, until I have enough money together for the new RPF1 wheels  s:) s:)